Page 4 - Installation and Conclusion
Installation of components in the XPG Invader was an easy process. The manual is clear enough for a beginner to follow along. I started by installing the motherboard and cooler. As you can see, I installed the radiator so the LEDs of the fans will be easy to see. It is not the most efficient cooling setup, but it looks nice, haha. I left the pre-installed front fan to continue to take air in at the front, with one fan at the back as an exhaust. However, since the radiator is in the orientation it is in, it exhausts air as well. In my setup, I probably have more air being pushed out than in. I continued to install the power supply and storage drives, and then connected as many cables as I could before I proceeded to install the graphics card.
I did not put much effort into cable management, so it was a bit messy behind the motherboard tray. That said, the XPG Invader lacks many integrated cabling options like tracks or built-in Velcro straps found on modern cases. There are cable tie-down points though. There are a lot of cables because of the ARGB capabilities of the case and the ARGB LEDs of my cooler. That aside, the XPG Invader also has a nice side panel mechanism. There are not a few tabs that need to fit into specific slots. Instead, it is more like a rail. This makes it a lot easier to close the case with cables spilling out the back.
Here is a look at the final assembled computer. You can kind of see the magnets I alluded to in the introduction. I was unable to get a great looking RGB photo, but I can guarantee the LEDs look amazing through the tempered glass. As well, the XPG Invader has its own ARGB lights that create a bit of an under glow at the front intake -- kind of like the Fast and Furious look from the 2000s. The case does not have any specific sound dampening tools on it and so is not especially quiet compared. However, it does a decent job. On a scale of 0 to 10 where 0 is completely silent and 10 is loud, at idle, the XPG Invader comes in at around 4.0/10 on the APH Networks standard subjective sound scale with all the fans running. When the computer is under load, I would peg it at around 4.5/10. When you have headphones on, I could not hear my computer. When I watch a movie, I could not hear it over the sound of my speakers either, so the noise is not intrusive. The XPG Invader is not a quiet case, but it is also not loud either. Overall, the XPG Invader does impress with its flexible cooling options, storage space, and the ability to mount the radiator a bit differently.
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Manufacturing a computer case out of metal has the added benefit of being able to stick magnets of 16th-century reformers to. But it also means the case is well-built, which is definitely true of the XPG Invader. The entire case is solid and the tempered glass side panel definitely ups the feeling of quality from the case. I cannot speak for the black version of this case, since I have not seen it in person, but the white version looks excellent. There are no inconsistencies through the entirety of the product and it is painted white inside as well. Furthermore, the dark tinted tempered glass definitely adds to the overall look. XPG also tastefully implemented the red accents on the chassis without the red being overpowering. There are also dust filters at every intake of the case, which is excellent. Some of them, like the ones on the bottom, are a bit flimsy though. Otherwise, the XPG Invader offers plenty of flexibility inside when it comes to storage options and cooling capabilities. There are three separate spots to where you can install a radiator, including the front, side, or top. On top of that, an extra fan can be installed under the hard drive cage. Speaking of hard drives, there are the option to install up to six SSDs or two hard drives and four SSDs. Those are plenty of options. One standout feature that I can say is a nice departure from the traditional design is the ability to mount the radiator so the fans are facing the tempered glass. This allows one to truly show off all the RGB capabilities of your chosen fans. The XPG Invader has some ARGB itself; namely right under the front panel to create an underglow. The XPG Invader has acceptable cable management features, albeit nothing in an extraordinary sense in 2020. This is truly the one main place I would fault this case. There are enough hooks to tie the cables down, but some Velcro straps or rubber grommets would definitely go that extra step of quality. At the time of publishing, the XPG Invader comes in at a price of $80 USD, which is priced well for what it is.
XPG provided this product to APH Networks for the purpose of evaluation.
APH Networks Review Focus Summary:
8/10 means Definitely a very good product with drawbacks that are not likely going to matter to the end user.
7/10 means Great product with many advantages and certain insignificant drawbacks, but should be considered before purchasing.
-- Final APH Networks Numeric Rating is 7.4/10
Please note that the APH Networks Numeric Rating system is based off our proprietary guidelines in the Review Focus, and should not be compared to other publications.
The XPG Invader is an ATX chassis that delivers on quality and flexibility along with a novel way to show off your RGB components.
Page Index
1. Introduction, Packaging, Specifications
2. Physical Look - Outside
3. Physical Look - Inside
4. Installation and Conclusion
